Parents
Preferred Nutritional Guidelines
Frequently
Asked Questions
- Just
how big is the business of nutrition in schools?
- What
Is Wrong With The Food In Public Schools?
- Where
Does The Money Made From Vending Machines
Go?
- Why
has this gotten so out of hand?
- What
About Sugar And Dental Cavities?
- Does
Sugar Cause Hyperactivity In Children?
- How
Do I Find Out What My Child Eats At School?
- Who
Should I Contact If I Feel There Is A Problem
With The School Program?
- When
I Was A Kid In School, We Had Physical Fitness
Programs, What Happened?
- Do
You Really Think There Is A Problem With Our
Schools?
Hundreds
of millions of your tax dollars are spent each
year by the Federal Government reimbursing school
systems for meals that are fed children for
free and reduced-price lunches. Students going
through the lunch line, however, can also choose
a la carte items, many of which do not meet
nutritional guidelines and for which the government
will not reimburse the school system.
Make no
mistake, vending machines are big business.
About half of the nation's schools districts
have vending machine contracts with soft drink
companies to help fund extracurricular activities.
Some school districts receive hundreds of thousands
of dollars up front from large corporations
just to sign an exclusive contract with a company.
This type of big money is not just being paid
to big city school districts. Princeton City
School District in Ohio received $136,000 up
front from Coke-Cola for a 10-year contract,
and receives 40 percent of all sales ($18,000
last year) from the machines. Coke and Pepsi
are now involved in a court battle over a contract
that was signed by a school system then was
later broken so the school could sign for more
money with another company..
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It is not
so much what is wrong with the food in public
schools, but the type of food and the choices
given our children. We do not feel that our
children should be made to make the types of
choices they are forced to make.
It is hard
enough teaching our children proper nutritional
values while they are bombarded by junk food
ads and bad eating habits from TV commercials,
and rows of sweet and junk food at the grocery
store. We are now faced with our children being
forced to make choices at school they should
not have to make. They either have to explain
why they are not allowed to eat junk food and
the rules taught them by their parents, or face
the pear pressure that forces them to make a
bad choice. Why should our K -6 grade children
be forced to choose between two Pop Tarts or
fresh fruit for breakfast at school when we
all know the choice they will make.
About half of the nation's schools districts
have vending machine contracts with soft drink
companies to help fund extracurricular activities.
If it were not so serious, it would be funny.
The irony is that a large portion of the money
is given to the athletic program.
The Lakota Local School District in Ohio,
has a 13-year contract with Coca-Cola Co., and
generates about $50,000 a year from vending
proceeds, said athletic director Stu Eversole.
“Athletically, it's
been a very positive financial step for us,”
Mr. Eversole said. “Without the revenue,
it would put a severe debt in the financial
resources of our athletic program.”
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One of the major reasons is that there is big
money involved. Another reason is that there
are a lot of people in state and local government,
elected and employees, who have had their job
for a number of years and the current situation
is status quo.
At this point in time, there is only one statewide
candidate that has come out and took a stand
on these issues and that is Kentucky Lt. Gov.
Steve Henry, a medical doctor who is running
for governor. He is making childhood obesity
and sugary snacks and drinks a campaign issue.
He has visited Northern Kentucky schools to
teach students about nutrition. .
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The best
information I can give you is to read Dr. Jerry
Simon, DDS has to say on the subject. To read
Dr. Simons article, 
Click
Here!
It all depends
on which expert you want to choose. There are
experts on both sides of the fence and each
has their own opinions and research to backup
what they feel is right.
First of
all, trust your instincts as a parent. No matter
who the expert is that tells you that two Pop
Tarts for breakfast is good for your child and
that it won't effect their behavior in the class
room is WRONG! You know this, you probably
have seen how your children act when they have
sugar, you probably have experienced that same
feeling yourself.
Over
the past ten years there has been changes in
dietary positions concerning sugar. The current
trend that school dietitians tent to lean toward
is that sugar is a good energy source.
In part,
this trend is based on a double blind study
done in 1994 of 48 children which states that
there is no proof that sugar promotes hyperactive
or obesity in children .
This study
has been used as a rebuttal to parents who complain
about such foods as Pop Tarts being served as
part of a nutritious breakfast in schools. The
fact that Pop Tarts fit within the FDA guidelines
as part of a nutritious breakfast is also used.
If you will
do your own research, you will find that every
candy company and manufacturer of sweet foods
and drinks uses the 1994 study to promote their
products as being good for you. On Coke Colas
web site, you will find their company paid dietitian
quoting the same study to explain why you should
not blame the sugar in Coke if your child exhibits
hyperactivity. To view Cokes web site, 
Click
Here!
To view
other information links, go to our Link Information
Page, Click
Here!
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Most school
districts are computerized and can give you
a computer print out of what your child has
eaten for each meal.
As a parent,
you have the right to go to school and have
a meal with your child. If you can make time,
you should make it a point to eat with your
child at least once every two months. This not
only helps you to see what type of food the
school is serving and what type of foods your
child is eating, it allows you to spend some
quality time with your child.
If you are
like a large number of parents, it can be hard
to make the time due to work. If your child's
school does not send a menu home with your child,
you should contact your local school board and
ask that your child be given the school breakfast
and lunch menu to be brought home to you.
Make sure
that you keep a close watch on each months menu
to make sure of what is being served your child.
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You must remember, you know your child and
your child's nutritional needs better than anyone.
You do not have to be a Doctor to express your
concerns about school food programs.
In most cases, speaking with the school directly
will not get results. You will probably be directed
to speak with the school board dietitian. If
your concerns are not addressed to your satisfaction
after speaking with the school dietitian, you
should contact the school board members with
your concerns. You should also direct your concerns
to the Director, School & Community Nutrition
and the Commissioner Of Education, in Frankfort.
To
find and contact your school board members,
State and Local, Click
Here!
Good question,
the answer you will receive from most people
is "No Budget". The problem is that
the physical fitness programs come at the end
of the line behind every other program.
In the mean
time, since the 1970s, obesity in teens has
tripled-from 5 percent to 15 percent.
Childhood obesity-related
diseases in the United States have also grown.
Type 2 diabetes, for example, was rarely seen
in juveniles a decade ago.
Today, Children's
Hospital Medical Center in Ohio reports about
20 new cases each year of Type 2 diabetes in
teens 13-16, compared to one case or less 10
years ago, said Dr. Stephen Daniels, a pediatric
cardiologist known for his work in obesity and
children's health.
Dr. Daniels
blames the increase on diets that are overly
reliant on soft drinks and junk food, along
with increased sedentary behavior.
“I view
the vending machines and schools as one part
of a much bigger picture,” Dr. Daniels
said. “But we need to help kids by not
constantly putting them in positions where they
have to make difficult choices.”
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Do
You Really Think There Is A Problem With Our
Schools?
If you have
read our web site and you still feel all is
well in our schools, then you should not worry
about your child and what they eat or have access
to in our public schools.
On the other
hand, if you disagree with the following statement,
you should be a member of PPNG.
At New
Miami in Butler County Ohio, athletic director
and assistant principal Brad Hunt said he agrees
“kids at times drink too much pop.”
But, he added, “If we would ban pop from
the school, our athletic department would go
down the tubes. The pop machines (in the athletic
hallway and teachers' lounge) bring in a third
of the athletic department budget.”
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